Al-Abbas

Descendants of Al-’Abbas

Al-’Abbas had five sons - Ubaidullah, al-Fadhl, al-Hasan, al- Qasim, and Muhammad, and two daughters.[^1]

Ibn Shahrashub, the famous historian recorded that Muhammad was martyred in Karbala with his father. The mother of Ubaidullah and al-Fadhl was Lubaba daughter of Ubaidullah ibn al-’Abbas ibn Abd-ul-Muttalib. Genealogists have agreed unanimously that the progeny of al-’Abbas ibn ‘Ali came from his son Ubaidullah. Sheikh al- Futouni, however, added that al-Hasan ibn al-’Abbas had sons and descendants, too.

Ubaidullah ibn al-’Abbas who died in AH 155, was one of the celebrated scholars. Handsomeness, perfect morality and personality were ascribed to him. He married three ladies.

Imam ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn ul-Abidin (a), respected Ubaidullah greatly. He, very frequently, wept when he saw Ubaidullah, saying that this man reminded him of his father’s unique sacrifice on that day in Karbala. Al-Hasan, son of Ubaidullah lived for sixty-seven years and had five sons: al-Fadhl, Hamza, Ibrahim, al-’Abbas, and Ubaidullah. All of these were honorable, virtuous and authors.

Al-Fadhl was such an eloquent, religious, and courageous personality that caliphs respected him. He was named - ‘Ibn al- Hashimiyya son of the Hashemite lady’-.[^2] He had three sons, Ja’far al-’Abbas, al-Akbar and Muhammad.

Abu’l-’Abbas al-Fadhl ibn Muhammad ibn al-Fadhl ibn al- Hasan ibn Ubaidullah ibn al-’Abbas was a famous orator and poet. He composed some poetic verses eulogizing his forefather, al- ‘Abbas.

Hamza ibn al-Hasan ibn Ubaidullah ibn al-’Abbas copied his forefather, Amir ul-Mu’minin. His grandson Muhammad ibn ‘Ali - the famous poet resided in Basra and died in AH 286.[^3]
Ibrahim Jardaqa was another descendant of al-’Abbas. He was a jurisprudent, man of letters and well known of his ascetics.

Abdullah ibn ‘Ali ibn Ibrahim wrote some books, such as the book titled al-Ja’fariyya. He died in Egypt in AH 312.

Al-’Abbas ibn al-Hasan ibn Ubaidullah ibn al-’Abbas was a great celebrity among the Hashemites. He visited Baghdad during the reign of Harun ar-Rashid. He was one of the most celebrated poets.[^4]

Abdullah ibn al-’Abbas was also a famous personality known for his virtue and celebrity. When he was informed about Abdullah’s death, al-Ma’moun - the ‘Abbasid caliph said: “All people are the same after your demise, O son of al-’Abbas!”[^5]

Abu’t-Tayyib Muhammad ibn Hamza enjoyed a good personality. He was also well known for his regard for relatives and virtue. He had big fortunes in Jordan where he was killed in AH 291. His descendants were called – ‘sons of the martyr.’

Ubaidullah ibn al-Hasan was the Governor and Qadi of Mecca and Medina during the reign of al-Ma’moun.

Abu-Ya’li al-Hamza ibn al-Qasim ibn ‘Ali ibn Hamza ibn al- Hasan ibn Ubaidullah ibn al-’Abbas ibn ‘Ali was one of the most celebrated men of knowledge. He was a great scholar of hadith who instructed many famous scholars and wrote many books, such as - Kitab ut-Tawhid, Kitab uz-Ziyaraatu wel-Menasik, and many others in various fields of knowledge, especially in Ilm ur-Rijal and Ilm ul-Hadith.[^6]

Many scholars described him with remarkable words of praise.[^7] There is a handsome shrine which was built on the tomb of al-Hamza in a village called ‘al-Hamza’ and lying in al-Jazira, central Iraq, between the Euphrates and the Tigris[^8]. It has been incessantly visited by people.

Finally, books of history are full of names of great personalities among the descendants of al-’Abbas ibn ‘Ali.[^9]

[^1]: Quoted from Sayyid Abd-ur-Razzaq al-Musawi al-Muqarram’s al- ‘Abbas

[^2]: Quoted from Sayyid Abd-ur-Razzaq al-Musawi al-Muqarram’s al- ‘Abbas

[^3]: See I’laam un-Nas fi Fadhaail il-’Abbas

[^4]: Al-Muhammara is the Arabic name of Khorramshahr, the famous city and port on the Shatt al-Arab southern Iran

[^5]: See Maqaatil ut-Talibiyyin, 84; Sheikh at-Futouni’s Hadeeqat un- Nasab; Ibn Qutaiba’s al-Me’aarif, 96; and Hadaaiq ul-Uns

[^6]: Ilm ur-Rijal is the field of Islamic Sudies where the manners and qualifications of the narrators of Hadith is studied. Ilm ul- Hadith is another field of knowledge that classifies the words, deeds and confirmations reported to be said, done, and made by Prophet Muhammad (S) on criteria of authenticity

[^7]: See, for instance, Sheikh at-Tusi’s ar-Rijal, an-Nejashi’s al-Feherest, al-Amali, Sheikh as-Saduq’s Ikmal ud-Din, and Sheikh ‘Abbas al- Qummi’s al-Kuna wal-Alqab

[^8]: See Fulk un-Najat, Allama an-Nouri’s Tahiyyat uz-Zaair, and Sheikh ‘Abbas al-Qummi’s Al-Kuna wal-Alqab

[^9]: See, for instance, Umdat ut-Talib, at-Tabari’s at-Tarikh, Tarikhu Baghdad, al-Hujjatu ela ath-Thahib, Thakhirat ud-Darain, Murouj uth- Thahab, al-Isfahani’s al-Aghani, and many others